MISSOULA – The campus parking passes at the University of Montana feature a special touch this year, highlighting the artwork of a UM student.

Angela Brooker, a sophomore in the UM School of Business Administration, won a contest last spring seeking student photography or illustrations for the 2013-14 parking pass. The Office of Public Safety sponsored the contest, asking students to create an image representing a positive experience at UM.

Brooker, who previously studied art at UM, heard about the contest in the University’s student newspaper, the Montana Kaimin. She drew inspiration from the iconic Grizzly statue on the Oval, Main Hall and campus greenery to create her illustration.

“One of the things I notice walking around the University is the trees and how beautifully it’s kept,” Brooker said. “You can tell a lot of work goes into it.”

Rozlyn Haley, event parking and transportation coordinator for the Office of Public Safety, works on the parking permit design each spring and had wanted to get students involved for a few years.

“I try to do things to interact with students and wanted to do something positive for them,” she said. “And there’s always the issue of coming up with a creative idea for the permits.”

Public Safety received about 10 submissions through the contest. Brooker’s drawing was the only illustration, and Haley said the creativity helped it stand out in the group.

Brooker won a free parking permit for the year, which she’s already put to use now that classes are back in session.

Haley said the Office of Public Safety will hold the student art contest again in the spring.

“We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback,” she said. “Everyone thinks the permit is cool this year.”